Music

Casavant Pipe Organ

In 2021, our Casavant pipe organ at Historic St. Paul's Lutheran Church turned 100 years old!

It was installed and dedicated in April 1921. It's original design was a "tubular pneumatic" action, meaning that wind pressure ran all the mechanics as well as the blowing of pipes. The only electrical part of the instrument was the large blower, stored in the tower room behind the instrument at the base of the steeple. Electricity had only become generally available in Kitchener 11 years prior.

The oak case of the organ matched the original dark wood decor of the room. 

In 1956, the organ's original pneumatic action was replaced with a newer "electro-pneumatic" action, where key presses activate electromagnets, which cause individual pipes to sound. This upgrade improved response time. The organ's original drawknob console was replaced with the current stoptab console. 

In the 1970s, further modifications were made. A new trumpet stop was added to the Great division. It was originally mounted on a separate chest in front of the organ facade, but was later moved inside the case. There was also significant "revoicing" of the instrument done in an attempt to mimic the sound of older baroque instruments, which had come back in style in those decades.

As it stands today, the organ has 16 stops and 14 ranks, with a total of 870 pipes. 

Additional technical details on the instrument can be found on the Pipe Organ Database website: